Can exhauster and cooker.



N0- 808,044. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

M. W. GROOM] CAN BXHAUSTER AND COOKER.

APPLIOATIONIILED MAE.24. 1905.

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No. 808,044. PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. M. W. GROOM.

CAN EXHAUSTER AND COOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.24, 1905.

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CAN EXHAUSTER AND COOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed March 24,1905. Serial No. 251,915.

To u/ZZ wjwnb it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARsnALL W. GRooM, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can Exhaustersand (lookers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for use in canneries, and especiallyin fruit and vegetable canneries.

In fruit-canneries it is usual, first, to charge the cans with thefruit; second, to fill them with syrup; third, pass the syruped cansthrough an exhaust-box, where the cans are heated up to drive out theair; fourth, cap the cans; fifth, cook the cans by passing through anapparatus similar to the exhaustbox, but where the heating period isprolonged, cooling and traying the cans, and, finally, preparing themready for the market.

My invention pertains to the exhausting and cooking periods; and itsobject is to provide an a paratus which will be simple, practical, aneconomical and of large capacity, which may be used for either exhaustor cooking purposes, which will enable cans to be exhausted or cookedfor any length of time within certain limits without changing the speedof travel of the cans and without losing time in making the change, and,conversely, which will permit the speed of the cans to be changedWithout changing the time of exhausting or cooking and which willprevent the open cans filling with the drip from the condensed steamduring exhaust and so diluting the syrup or causing the cans. tooverflow and foul the outside of the cans and the apparatus with syrupto the serious inconvenience of the solderer.

The invention consists of the parts and the combination of partshereinafter described, having reference to the accompanying drawings. inwhich Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus with top removed, showingrunways, but omitting the heating-pipes. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofsame. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of same. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionon the line :1; 0c of Fig. 5, showing steam-pipes. Fig. 5 is plan viewof heating-pipes. Fig. 6

is a side view of tightener for the can-carriers. Fig. 7 is a section onthe line y g of Fig. 6 through same.

A represents a suitable framework sup porting the box 2, which is ofsuitable size, shape, and material. This box is inclosed top and bottomand on all sides except for an ingress-opening 3 at one side adjacent toone end for the cans and a similar egress-o ening 4 in the opposite sideapproximate to t 1e opposite end. The box is divided longitudinally intoa plurality of compartments or runs 5 by means of the partitions 6.

A can entering at 3 is taken by suitable conveying means along the firstrun to the opposite end of the machine, where by means of a curved guide7 and a revolving shaft 8 the can is shunted over into the next run,where an oppositely-traveling carrier conveys the can to the other endof the machine, and so on, alternating back and forth across the machineuntil it is discharged at 4. Similar guides 7 are disposed at each endof the machine to effect the necessary deflection from one run toanother, and a similar shifting device 8, revolving in the rightdirection, is arranged properly between the succeeding pairs of runs.

Any suitable conveying means may be employed to carry the cans throughthe runs. Preferably I use a separate conveyer for each run, whichcomprises a chain 9 passing over end sprockets 1O turning on horizontalaxes, and which chain carries the slats 11 whereon the cans set. Theends of the slats are guided and supported in their upper and lowerflights on the angles 12 attached to the sides of the partitions 6, asshown in Fig. 4. The conveyers are entirely housed in the box and beingsupported along their lower planes require very much less power to runthem than where they hang limp and unsupported underneath and outsidethe box, as is'usual with exhausters of this character.

As shown in Fig. 1, there are two sets of shafts for the sprockets 10,one set 13 13 and the other, 14 14, all disposed horizontal and paralleland substantially in the same plane, but with the shaft 13 outside ofshaft 14 and shaft 13'- inside of shaft 14, so that alternate conveyersbegin and terminate at different points from the intermediate conveyersfor the purpose of allowing the cans to be properly shifted from oneconveyer to a next succeeding one. Furthermore, the two sets of shaftsare revolved in opposite directions by the interengaging gears 15. Thepartitions 6 likewise terminate at different points, so that the cansmay pass around a partition at each end of the machine into a succeedingrun throughout the series.

The transverse roller-conveyers 8 are journaled between, parallel with,and approximately in the plane of the several longitudinal conveyers 9and are operated conjunctively with the latter to transfer the cans fromone run to the other. The several rollers 8 at either end of theapparatus are driven in unison from the shaft 16 through correspondingbeveled gearing 17.

Power to operate the several conveyers may be derived from anyappropriate source, and any suitable form of drive connections may beemployed to operate the conveyers in unison. It is desired, however,that means be provided by which the conveyers may be run at differentspeeds to diminish or increase the capacity of the machine or to varythe period of exhausting or cooking or to save power.

18 represents a drive-shaft which may be run at constant speed. Thisshaft has three normally idle-sprockets 19 20 21, any one of which isadapted to be run in unison with the shaft by means of suitablerespective clutches 22, sliding on and turning with the shaft.

23 is a counter-shaft carrying three sprockets 24 25 26, each ofdifferent size, connected with the respective sprockets 19 2O 21 bycorresponding chains 27. From shaft 23 a chain 28 passes over sprockets29 29, the shaft of which latter sprocket carries a small gear 29,engaging the large gear 30 on the shaft 14.

Shaft 14 is connected with the adjacent shaft 16 by the sprocket-chain31, while the shaft 13 at the opposite end of the machine is connectedwith the other shaft 16 by chain 32. The shafts 13 14 may have theirjournal-boxes mounted on sliding carriages 33, movable by the screws 34to permit the simultaneous adjustment of the tension of all the carriers9, and the tension of chain 32 may be regulated by a suitable tightener35. Since there may be three carriages 33 to sup port the shafts 13 14,as here shown, and as they must be moved in unison, each screw 34extends outside the box and carries a sprocket 36, while a chain 37passes over all these sprockets and around a tightener 38. By operatinga crank 39 on one of the screws all are turned simultaneously, equally,and in the same direction to move the carriage as de-' sired.

The heating of each of the several runs is done independently of oneanother, so that a can may traverse one run at cooking or exhaustingtemperature and on passing into the next run will traverse a cooler andnoncooking or non-exhausting zone. As here shown, a perforatedsteam-pipe 40 extends from end to end of each run between the upper andlower flights of the conveyers 9 and is con nected laterally through themiddle of the machine by a corresponding pipe'4l with the mainsteam-pipe 42. Valves 43 regulate the passage of steam through pipes 41to the respective runs.

The roof of each run of the box is preferably made arched, as shown, sothat the moisture condensing in the top of the runs will run off downthe sides of the partitions 6 and not drip into the open cans when thedevice is used as an exhauster. flat-topped boxes is most annoying anduneconomical, since it causes a dilution of the syrup and overflowing ofthe can and a consequent waste of syrup and sugar, besides causing asloppy mess in the exhauster and on the conveyers and interferingseriously with the soldering of the cans, since they must be cleaned ofall sugar deposits around the capopening before the solder will takehold.

Access may be had to either end of the runs and to the variousconveyer-shafts through the hinged doors 44. A thermometer 45 isdisposed relative to each run, so the temperature of the several runsmay be accurately gaged. i

The points to be emphasized especially in this machine are the inclosedbox with the separated runs opening one into the other at the ends andthe conveyers 9 in the runs and supported in the box; the horizontalrollers 8, by which the cans are shifted around the turns and whichrevolve as fast as the surface travel of the longitudinal conveyerscarrying the cans, and which rollers prevent the cans stopping at theturns, thereby avoiding any blocking or clogging in the apparatus;

, the three-speed arrangement for varying the rate of travel of thecans; the separately-reg ulated steam-pipes to permit cooking orexhausting to continue a longer or shorter time without varying the rateof travel of the cans.

An exhauster or cooker of six thousand cans capacity per hour would beapproximately thirty-two feet long, with six runs in the exhauster ortwelve in the cooker. Giving one minute for a can to traverse a run, itwould take six minutes for exhausting and twelve for cooking, which arethe usual times,

for most fruits. With this apparatus there may be two or more differenttimes of cooking or exhaust going on simultaneously. If the operatordesires to shorten the cook with out changing the speed of travel of thecans,

This drip in ordinary he turns off the proper number of throttles 43 tobring down the time to the point desired. Then when he wishes to addmore time he turns on the steam in the proper number of runs. Hence heis able to cook each lot of fruit just the requisite amount without lossof time by having to empty the cooker first and then speed it up beforefeed ing in a fresh lot, as must be done with the apparatuses nowcommonly in use. By this aparatus he can keep running and can accomplishthe desired end by turning off or on one or more steam-valves. If with amachine of six thousand cans normal capacity per hour the cans shouldonly come at the rate of four thousand five hundred per hour and theoperator wants to give them the same cock as beforesay twelve minutes-hethrows out the high-speed clutch and runs at intermediate speed and cutsoff steam in two runs in the exhaust-box and in four runs in the cooker,which will just handle four thousand five hundred cans, and thus savepower and labor. When the cans begin to come faster, he speeds up hismachine and turns on steam in the proper number of runs or compartmentsin the exhauster and cooker (it being understood that the eXhauster isso arate from the cooker, but both identica in principle. Thus it isobserved that with this machine I may vary the length of the period ofexhaust or cooking (the heating period) without changing the speed oftravel of the cans, or, conversely, I may vary the speed of travel ofthe cans without changing the lengths of the heating period.

It is possible that various modifications may be made in this inventionwithout departing from the principle thereof, and I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the specific construction herein shownand described.

The cans may be fed into the device through a suitable inlet-opening byany wellknown means and onto a conveyer 70, (shown by dotted lines inFigs. 1 and 2,) by which they are carried into the first runway.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a retorthaving ingress and egress o enings for the cans and divided longitudinaly into a plurality of runs having communication with each other at theirends, separate conveyers operating in said runs, and entirely housed andsup orted in the retort, means for operating a ternate of said conveyersin one direction and means for operating the intermediate conveyers inan opposite direction, rollers at the ends of the runs between theconveyers and guides coop erating with said rollers to transfer the cansfrom one of said conveyers to a succeeding oppositely-moving one, andheating means within the retort.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a retorthaving ingress and egress openings for the cans and dividedlongitudinally into a plurality of runs having communication with eachother at their ends, separate conveyers operating in said runs, andentirely housed and sup orted in the retort, means for operating aternate of said conveyers in one direction and means for operating theintermediate conveyers in an o posite direction, rollers at the ends oftl ie runs between the conveyers and guides cooperating with saidrollers to transfer the cans from one of said conveyers to a succeedingop ositely-moving one, and separately-contro led heating means in eachrun.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a retorthaving ingress and egress openings for the cans and dividedlongitudinally into a plurality of runs having communication with eachother at their ends, separate conveyers operating in said runs andentirely housed and sup orted in the re tort, means for operating aternate of said conveyers in one direction and means for operating theintermediate conveyers in an opposite direction, rollers at the ends ofthe runs between the conveyers and guides cooperating with said rollersto transfer the cans from one of said conveyers to a succeeding opositely-moving one, and separately-contro led heating means in each run,the runs in said retort having arched roofs whereby the condensedmoisture is directed to the sides of the runs.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a retorthaving ingress and egress openings for the cans and divided into aplurality of longitudinl runs, conveyers in said runs, means foroperating alternate of the conveyers in one direction, and means foroperating the intermediate conveyers in an opposite direction, means fortransferring the cans at the ends of the runs from one run to anotherprogressively through the apparatus, means for heating the cans in theretort, and means for varying the heating period without changing thespeed of said conveyers.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinaton of a retorthaving ingress and egress openin s for the cans and divided into aplurality of longitudinal runs, conveyers in said runs, means foroperating alternate of the conveyers in one direction, and meansforoperating the intermediate convey ers in an opposite direction, meansfor transferring the cans at the ends of the runs from one run toanother progressively through the apparatus, means for heating the cansin the retort, means for varying the heating period without changing thespeed of said conveyers, and means for varying the speed of theconveyers without altering the heating period for the cans.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a boxdivided longitudinally into a plurality of runs, conveyers in said runs,means for operating alternate of the conveyers in one direction, andmeans for operating the intermediate conveyers in the oppositedirection, means for transferring cans from one conveyor to another,heating means in the apparatus, and means for varying the speed of saidconveyers without changing the heating period of the cans in theapparatus.

7. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a closed box divided longitudinally into a pluralityof compartments connected at the rims, conveyers operating in saidcompartments, said conveyers comprising chains passing over sprockets onhorizontal axes, slats on the chains and guides on the sides of thecompartments supporting said slats, means for operating alternateconveyers in one direction, means for operating theintermediate-conveyers in the opposite direction, transfer means betweenthe conveyers to shift the cans from one conveyer to a succeeding one,heating means in the compartments, and means for controlling the heat ineach compartment independently of all the other compartments.

8. The combination of a box divided longitudinally into a plurality ofcompartments, heating means in the compartments, endless conveyers onhorizontal axes traveling in said compartments, means-for operating theconveyers in alternate compartments in one direction, means foroperating the intermediate conveyers in an opposite direction,horizontally disposed rollers arranged parallel with and between theconveyers and curved guides cooperating with said rollers to shift thecans from one conveyer to another at the turns, and means for operatingsaid rollers.

9. The combination of a box divided longi- 3o tudinally into a pluralityof compartments, conveyers on horizontal axes in said compartments, oneset of shafts supporting alternate of said conveyers and another set ofshafts supporting the intermediate convey- 3 5 ers, connections betweensaid sets of shafts, said shafts atone end of the apparatus beingmounted in boxes to move in unison, means for shifting said boxes tovary simultaneously the tension of all of said conveyers, heat- 40 ingmeans in the compartments and transfer means operating betweensuccessive conveyers to shift cans fromone conveyer to a succeedingconveyer.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset 45 my hand in presence of 'twosubscribing witnesses.

MARSHALL W. GROOM.

Witnesses:

P. M. GRooM, W. L. JoHNs.

